IDF Radio Ignores Performers' Anti-Zionism

IDF radio will continue to play songs by artists who have accused Israel of genocide, in the name of “separation of art and opinion.”

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Maayana Miskin, 03/06/11 11:33 | updated: 12:37

Faithless appears in Haifa, 2005

Wikicommons, Amire

The two IDF radio stations, Army Radio and Galagalatz, said they will continue to play songs performed by anti-Israel artists, including those who accuse Israel of genocide, IDF spokesmen said Friday.

“We will continue to play the music. There must be a separation between art and opinion,” the army explained.

The subject came up for debate after two members of the British band “Faithless,” together with other British artists, created a song and video clip titled, “Freedom for Palestine.” The video accuses Israel of a variety of crimes, including apartheid, racism, and crimes against humanity.

The video includes a cartoon in which IDF soldiers deliberately murder innocent Arab civilians and fire on a school. The soldiers are shown sitting in a tank with a blue star of David on the side, apparently to identify them as Jews.

At another point in the cartoon a soldier is shown pushing an Arab woman and her baby to the ground.

A second band, Coldplay, promoted the clip on its Facebook page. Coldplay is a popular band with Israelis, and has considered appearing in Israel this September.